Means for stabilizing the fluctuating flow of liquids in pipe or conduit systems



Aug. 18, 1936. A. ARUTUNOFF 2,051,019

MEANS FOR STABILIZING THE FLUCTUATING FLOW OF LIQUIDS IN PIPE OR CONDUITSYSTEMS Filed Aug. 21, 1955 mmvro A TTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 18, E936 eases 2&513195 mans son surname "rm minim me FLQWF LEQUWQ m PEPE @R was DUHE assesses Amelia Amtnnefi, Enztlseeiiie, @Mgaa are 1 Application d My invention relates to a m for i v thefluctuating flow of liquids in pipe or c nduit systems. It particularlyrelatw to a means for stabilizing the how of liquids delivered by re- 5ciprocating pumps, and is intended for the class of work ordinarilyassigned to the air chamber.

The air chamber is a necessity in a pump driven by a crank motion, fortwo reasons. One reason is to protect the pipe system and the other isthe protection of the pump itself.

In the pipe system, the uniform flow afiorded by action of such a deviceas an air chamber enhances the life of connections, keeps frictionlosses of fluid to a minimum and eliminates objectionable noises, whilefor the pump, the employment of such a device as an air chamber meanseven more, as by eliminating the pounding and hydraulic ram phenomena,it preserves the working parts from overloads and breakage? However,ordinary air chambers, as mown. have several disadvantages orshortcomings.

One drawback consists in the necessarily. large dimensions of the airchamber. Particularly large dimensions are required for high pressurepumps such as for pressures above 60 atmospheres when for each cubicinch of compressible ass under working pressure, it is required to havemore than sixty cubic inch capacity of the air chamber at atmosphericpressure.

Another drawback consists in that, that air 7 contained in the airchamber, no matter of how.

large capacity, dissolves itself in liquid and is gradually carried outoi. it, rendering the air chamber inoperative.

- One object of my invention is to provide a'device for the class ofwork described which will be tree from the above mentioned objectionablefeatures of air chambers.

Another object is to utilize elasticity of metalsFIgureZisacrosssectionoithecompressible element shown on Figure 1.Piguresisscrosssectionoithecylindrlcal 21 1933, 843ml N6). meem (Cit.ems

tube or conduit or housing; with a number of compressible elementsassemhlw in it.

e :si s is a crow section at the complete assembly of my compensatorfor-use in the mine place where iormerly an air climber was in- 5stalled.

r c 5 is the em nt oi my invention for use in deep wells and inconnection with reciproosting pumps such m um in oil fields where astring of sucker rods has to pass through the 10 tubing.

figure 6 is a crow section of 5.

ions oithe Figures 7. 8 and 9 are at compressible element ofmyinvention.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 11 15 showing mmifimtionwhen compressible element is in the form oi a fiat walled conduitthrough which the fluid is w For the sake of simplicity, the compressionelement is shown with four walls althoughthe form is pre!- erable.

In the draw g I representsthe compressible element, 2 is a normallyplugged threaded opening, 8 is check valve arrangement, Q is top piecewelded to I, 5 is bottom piece. 6 is tubing, conduit, or housing, I isconnection to line part of compensator, 3 is housing, 8 is tubing 02 adeep well reciprocating pump in which sucker rods are operated, asindimtes commimicatins holes to compensator, H

. l8 designates air filled space, It is welded on end piece oi;compressible element 85. it is the space occupied or by liquids. Y Thecompressible element I is in a form of flattened tube, sealed and weldedon both ends.

when such element is subjected to pressure, the walls bend in as shownin dotted lines on Fig. 2; ivhen pressure is releasedthe walls expand 4to normal position. The elasticity of spring tempered walls is thusutilized for work ordinarily done byair in conventionalair chambers. Itwill be noted from Fig. 2 that element I of my design, although highlycompressible, is not 001- lapsible; i. e., will not form remainingdeformation under any practical pressure for which it is dimensionedas-to the thickness oi the walls.

As it may be seen from Fig. 2, the compressible element may be sodimensioned that maximum deflection is well within elastic limitsoimaterial used and as the walls, deflecting, meet and support eachother, the resistance to collapsing is increased with increase oideflection;

Itisevidenttlmtimanygivenpreaurethe compression element utilizingelasticity of spring tempered metal, will have more capacity and can domore work for given space than the ordinary air chamber, however, inorder to utilize more advantageously all available space, I haveprovided a check valve arrangement 3 through which element may becharged with air to a suitable pressure and in that way a comparativelylight wall element may be used for high pressure con-' ditions.

Elasticity of metal and compressed air are taken advantage of in asimple compact and effective arrangement. The compressed air cannotescape as the element is sealed, and the opening 2 is plugged beforeinstallation. Although by allowing only very small deflections ofworking wall, the element may last indefinitely even if deflectionchanges its sign in regard to a neutral position; i. e., the wall bendsin at high pressure and bulges out at low pressure, I am preventingchanging of sign of deflection of air charged elements and so increasingthe useful life of the elements by having a wall so formed that underpressure of compressed air supporting it, the wall, normally ispractically flat as shown on Figure 2.

Various forms of elements may be used and various arrangements ofelements may be employed for different conditions. Some forms and somearrangements are shown on the drawings, all of which have in common theproperty that they are compressible but not collapsible under any,encountered in practice, pumping pressure.

The underlying principle of supporting the walls of the compressibleelement may be applied not only to construction when the liquid isexerting pressure from the outside of each element but also toconditions when the liquid acts from the insideof the compressibleelement, as shown in simplified form on Figures 10 and 11. I am alsofully aware of the fact that my invention may be modified in form sothat the walls of any pipe conducting the fluid may be flattened tobenefit by their elasticity, and to acquire compensator action out ofthe pipe itself. However, in such modification of my invention, thematerial ordinarily used for. tubular goods is deficient in springqualities and their use may-not be advisable, and must be changed to abetter quality material with higher fatigue resisting properties.

From the foregoing,- it is believed that my invention may be clearlyunderstood without further description, it being borne in mind thatnumerous changes in the details of construction may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my'invention, and I desire to claim theinvention 'both broadly and specifically as set forth in the followingclaims.

being charged with compressed air prior to installation.

2. A compensator for use in connection with deep well reciprocatingpumps comprising a section of tubing forming a conduit for the fluidbeing pumped, a Jacket around said tubing and spaced therefrom to form asurrounding chamber, communicating passages between said tubing andchamber, and a plurality of independent elongated flat walled,substantially tubular compreasible elements disposed longitudinally insaid chamber around said tubing and forming a series of enclosed airspaces which are charged with compressed air prior to installation.

3. A compensator for use in connection with deep well reciprocatingpumps, comprising a section of tubing forming a conduit for the fluidbeing pumped, a jacket. around said tubing and spaced therefrom to forma surrounding chamber, communicating passages between said tubing andchamber, and at least one compressible clement disposed longitudinallyin said chamber, said element being substantially tubular in form,closed at its longitudinal extremities and composed of resilient springtempered fiat metal walls.

4. A compensator as claimed in claim 3 wherein said chamber is providedwith a plurality of said compressible elements, each independent of theother. 1

5. A compensator for use in connection with deep well reciprocatingpumps comprising a section of tubing forming a conduit for the fluidbeing pumped, a' Jacket around said tubing and spaced therefrom to forma surrounding chamber, communicating passages between said tubing andchamber, and a plurality of independent iongitudinally extendingcompressible elements in said chamber around said tubing, each of saidelements being composed of resilient metal in the form of an elongatedflattened tube, substantially elliptical in cross section and closed atits longitudinal extremities.

ARMAIS ARUTUNOFF.

